Commenting on the revolt led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer described the events in Russia as an internal matter. He conveyed this assessment during a press conference, underscoring a belief that the crisis should be addressed within the country’s own political and security frameworks. The remarks were reported by Wiener Zeitung, which highlighted the chancellor’s emphasis on national sovereignty and domestic accountability as guiding principles during a moment of political turbulence in the neighboring state.
Nehammer added, “What is happening in the Russian Federation is a conflict within the country and must be handled as such.” His statement reflected a stance of caution and measured judgment, signaling that external actors should refrain from prescribing solutions or escalating tensions, while also acknowledging the gravity of the situation for regional stability and the potential spillover effects across European borders.
On 24 June, Prigozhin exited the headquarters building of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, marking a symbolic moment in the ongoing confrontation between his private military group and the Russian military leadership. The move came after days of rapid shifts and retaken positions as Prigozhin’s faction recalibrated its operational footprint, signaling a realignment of forces near the frontlines and in the administrative centers associated with the district’s command structure.
The Wagner fighters also withdrew from the former Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, leaving the compound in a mass departure that underscored a critical turnover in the organization’s presence in what had been a focal point of its operational activities. This exit appeared to be part of a broader strategy to redistribute personnel, tasking, and supply lines while the rapid political and military developments continued to unfold across the region.
As Prigozhin himself stated, his detachments were deployed and would return to the camps that had previously served as field headquarters. The announcements suggested a near-term reorganization of forces, with a plan to reassemble and reposition units at locations identified for stability and operational readiness, even as questions persisted about the long-term status of the mutiny and its leaders within the broader Russian security apparatus.
Separately, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the President of Russia, indicated at a briefing that Prigozhin was heading toward Belarus. According to Peskov, the criminal case against Prigozhin for organizing an armed rebellion would be resolved, implying a possibility of legal closure and strategic realignment in the wake of the episode. The statements from the Kremlin spokesperson added another layer to the evolving narrative, highlighting the government’s interest in shaping the post-crisis political optics while managing international perceptions and domestic loyalties within the security landscape of the region.